Understanding Hamilton's water
Source: The city's water reports don't list hardness.
Where does Hamilton's water come from?
Hamilton's municipal drinking water is drawn from Lake Ontario and treated at the Woodward Avenue plant under Ontario's Safe Drinking Water Act. The city's reports don't publish a hardness figure, but Lake Ontario water in the region typically runs hard. Common issues:
- Scale on kettles, pipes and appliances
- Soap that doesn't lather well
- Dry or itchy skin and dull hair
- Iron, tannins and bacteria in rural wells
Recommended water treatment for Hamilton homes
We recommend systems based on where your water comes from. Your free in-home test confirms the fit before anything is installed.
Homes on city water
Downtown, Stoney Creek, Bartonville, Crown Point, the Mountain (Upper Hamilton)
Softening for scale, carbon for chlorine and reverse osmosis for drinking water.
Homes on well water
Rural Flamborough, Glanbrook and Ancaster, Carlisle, Freelton
Iron filters stop staining and metallic taste, tannin systems clear yellow water, and UV adds microbiological protection.
Iron & Manganese Filter
Birm media removes iron, manganese and the orange or black stains they leave.
See Iron & Manganese Filter
Tannin Eliminator
Clears tea-coloured water and yellow stains caused by tannins.
See Tannin Eliminator
UV Pro
Ultraviolet disinfection for well water: bacteria, viruses and cysts.
See UV ProSigns you may need a water filter
- Visible limescale on faucets
- Dry skin and dull hair after showering
- Appliances needing frequent descaling
- Chlorine odour or stale aftertaste
- Staining or sediment from a private well
Nearby cities we also serve
Questions
How hard is Hamilton tap water?
Hamilton's annual water reports don't list a hardness figure. Our free in-home test measures hardness, chlorine and dissolved solids at your tap.
Where does Hamilton get its water?
From Lake Ontario, treated at the Woodward Avenue water treatment plant. Some rural communities use wells.
Free in-home water test
Find out what's in your Hamilton water
We test your water at your home, show you what's in it, and recommend the system that fits.
- Free
- About 30 minutes
- No obligation